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February 19, 2013

To those staid, penny-loaf wearing striped ties who that think that the tactics of the Left are too “over-the-top” or somehow beneath the Right to use in the battle for America’s future, I ask you: How’s the status quo working out for you?

In 2011, when the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and its sister union in the telecom industry, the IBEW, conducted their failed strike against Verizon, the unions targeted the company’s executives at their homes. As distasteful as many observers found this tactic, it wasn’t the first time unions targeted individuals at their homes. Nor, will it likely be the last.

Collective actions build on the one-on-one education and issue information. They give members a chance to do something visible on the issue, to send a message, take a stand.

[snip]

There are different kinds of actions; each has a purpose in a campaign. Some actions require all members to participate; other actions require a small group. Still others require only 2-3 people.

All actions are intended to increase the pressure on management and to contribute to the resolution of the issue. [Emphasis added.]

When resolution does not come, the CWA also calls for ‘Escalating Actions‘–which includes picketing executive homes.

From page 19:

Collective actions should be planned so as to incrementally escalate pressure on the employer. The longer the issue is not resolved, the more confrontational the collective actions. In most cases, you will want to begin with non-confrontational solidarity actions and escalate if there’s no positive response from management.

The union intensifies the actions and ups the stakes at each level. The collective actions in the following list are offered as examples. [Emphasis added.]

The next time you’re sitting around your Tea Party or Republican committee meeting complaining about how far behind the Right is, or wondering what to do, you might want to take a lesson from one of the more Left-wing union’s playbooks and have some fun [A good tactic is one your people enjoy].